Paktikans unhappy with New Kabul Bank services

SHARANA (Pajhwok): Some government servants and common people allege the New Kabul Bank branch in southeastern Paktika province has failed in providing customer services.

Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers, police and other people waiting from morning to evening outside the bank branch in Sharana, the provincial capital, to withdraw their salaries, but many return empty-handed.

An ANA soldier, Samiullah (not his real name) told Pajhwok Afghan News he had been unable to get his salary in five days.

“My duty is in Barmal district that borders Pakistan, and the route to our area is insecure. It is my fifth day coming here to obtain my wage and send it to my family.”

Similarly, Katawazai, a policeman, said due to a rush on the bank, he had been unable to withdraw his salaries in the past few days.

Asmatullah, a disabled person, said “I have been staying in a hotel and come here daily, but the bank is refusing to give me my stipend.” “If I receive the stipend, I will be enough only to pay the hotel charges.”

In response to these comments, Pir Mohammad, head of the New Kabul Bank branch in Paktika, cited a technical problem in the system that delayed salaries of the public servants. He said the problem would be resolved soon.

A statement from the governor’s house said the provincial government was in talks with Azizi Bank to resolve the issue of salary payment to government servants and the issue would be resolved soon.